A sentence is provided in indirect speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence…

Question

A sentence is provided in indirect speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding direct speech.

The manager informed the employees that the deadline for submission had been extended by two days.

1. A. "You may submit the work two days later than planned," the manager informed.
2. B. "The deadline has been extended by two days," said the manager. (Correct answer)
3. C. "We are extending the submission deadline by two days," the manager said.
4. D. "You must finish it within two extra days," the manager said.

Correct Answer

Option B — "The deadline has been extended by two days," said the manager.

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is "The deadline has been extended by two days," said the manager.

Key Points

• Converting indirect to direct speech reverses the backshift: the past perfect *had been extended* returns to the present perfect has been extended.
• The words are placed in quotation marks, *that* is removed, and the reporting clause moves outside.
• The other options rewrite the content rather than restoring it — changing the passive to an active "We are extending", or replacing the statement with an obligation ("You must finish") or a permission ("You may submit").

Additional Information

• The direction of change is what candidates most often reverse: indirect → direct moves the tense forward, while direct → indirect moves it back.
• The voice must be preserved. The original reports a passive statement, so the direct form stays passive.
• Choose the option that alters only the framing, never the meaning — that single test resolves most direct-speech questions without analysing each tense.